Ms. Mary E. White-Swift

Ms. Mary E. White-Swift has been teaching dance in Fairfax County since the early 1990s. She came to the Joan Izzo Academy of Dance in the fall of 2001. Since coming to the school, she instituted the Academys annual production of The Kingdom of Sweets, premiering in 2002. She has staged a number of ballet suites including Gaite Parisienne, Appalachian Spring, Raymonda and The Cotillion. Ms. Mary led a group of dancers to perform in Orlando, Florida, for Walt Disneys Magic Music Days in 2006 and 2007. Additionally, Ms. Mary oversees several additional performances including The Kingdom of Sweets Teas, local parades, and various other performing opportunities. Ms. White-Swift began her dance training at the age of three and earned a Bachelors degree in English with a minor in Dance (teaching concentration) from Mercyhurst College in 2000. The Joan Izzo Academy of Dance has become a second home where Ms. Mary can combine her love for Christ and her love for Dance in a unique and enriched atmosphere. She would like to thank her husband and family for all their support to her and to the Academy.

 

Ms. Heidi Rodeffer

Ms. Heidi Rodeffer is originally from Harrisonburg, VA where she studied dance from the age of six. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with Honors from Shenandoah University in Dance Performance and Choreography and a minor in Psychology. As a scholarship student, her choreography was showcased and she was selected to be a soloist for various performances. She received the Terpsichore Award for her contributions as a professional artist her senior year. Heidi has performed twice at the Jazz Dance World Congress where she studied with the Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago. She danced professionally at the Kennedy Center Honors Tribute to Chita Rivera and premiered a solo at Dance Place in DC. She was hired to perform for modern companies directed by Paula Kellinger in Pennsylvania and by Beverly Cordova Duane in Virginia. She has also studied with and performed a work by DanceBrazils director Jelon Vieira and a work by Anna Sokolow, staged by Lorry May. Since graduating from Shenandoah in 2005, Heidi has taught Jazz, Modern, Ballet, and Choreography at Valley Dance Theatre in Staunton, VA. She is excited to be teaching her second year here and looks forward to getting to know all of her new students.

Ms. Shontya' Washington

Ms. Shontya Washington is a God-fearing woman who has a passion for dance. She began dancing at the age of 2 . Her dance disciplines include ballet, tap, jazz, modern, hip-hop, clogging, and Irish. While in high school she auditioned and was chosen to be a part of the first group of Dance Theatre of Harlem Residency Program. During this program, she was also one of the few selected students to perform on stage with the Performing Company of Dance Theatre of Harlem. She attended James Madison University, and received her Bachelor of Science degree in the major of Integrated Science and Technology and a minor in Computer Science. Although she did not major in dance she still maintained her skills by taking classes while at the university. She also ran track and currently holds track records both at JMU and at her high school (Herndon High). Upon graduation she continued her dance life by teaching at the Northern Virginia Center for Dance and Theatre (NVCDT), the studio where she had been a student since she was 4. There she taught ballet, jazz, tap, and hip hop. She also was a substitute teacher in the disciplines of clogging, Irish, modern, and musical theatre. Since the closing of the dance studio, she had been trying to find a place that was based on the same dance principles held at NVCDT. The first time she visited the Joan Izzo Academy of Dance, she felt it was a place to call home. Shontya is a wife to Brian Washington, Sr. and mother to Brian Jr., Braxton, and Janai. Her love for her family is second only to her love of Christ. She is a devoted wife and mother, with an incredible passion and love for the art of dance.

Ms. Alayna Brown

Ms. Alayna Brown is from Manassas, VA and has been dancing since the age of three. She has been trained in jazz, tap, ballet, modern, musical theatre, and hip hop. Alayna started her dance training at Centreville Dance Theatre and then continued at Encore Performers in Chantilly, VA for 9 years. While at Encore, Alayna has performed in numerous Christmas, Spring, Community Theatre, and benefit performaces. Alayna was a four year member of the Osbourn Park High School dance team, and she is currently the Assistant Coach of the dance team. In 2002, Alayna was fortunate enough to travel to Beijing, China to dance in the Beijing International Tourism Festival. Alayna graduated in 2009 from the University of Michigan with a BA in Sociology and a minor in Gender and Health. She is currently looking into pursuing a nursing degree and a Masters in Healthcare Administration. Alayna was a three year member of the University of Michigan Dance Team, where she performed at home football and basketball games as well as the College National Championships televised on ESPN. She was also the Artistic Director of the U of M branch of Dance 2XS International, as well as a two year member of a campus dance group Pure Dance Xtreme. Alayna taught ballet, tap, and jazz for two years at Dancers Edge in Dexter, MI. Alayna is very excited for the opportunity to share her knowledge of dance and to teach at the Joan Izzo Academy of Dance.

If you have questions, please give us a call at (703) 327-8402 or send us an email: joanizzodance@joanizzodance.org